Mail-bag closure.



No. 666,6!3. I Patented Ian. 22, l90|.'

I C. C. CRAWFORD &. W. C. BICHY.

MAIL BAG CLOSURE. 7

(Application flld Sept. 8, 1900. j

m Model.)

I 0 I III I y-A gwmw {v 7' 7 UNrTED STATES BATET OFFICE.

CHARLES C. CRAWFORD AND WILLIAM C. BICHY, OF PHILADELPHIA; PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-FOURTH TO NATHAN H. FLA

TAU, OF SAME PLACE.

MAIL-BAG oLosuRE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 666,613, dated January 22, 1901.

Application filed September 8, 1900. Serial No. 29,384. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES C. CRAW- FORD and WILLIAM C. BIOHY, citizens of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mail-Bag Closures, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

Our invention relates to an improved construction of an automatic locking device for mail and other pouches, the same consisting of a plurality of bars which are hinged together in such a way that the frame composing the locking device when the bars are in a certain position will tend to keep the mouth of the bag or pouch open for the reception of letters, packages, &c., and when the pouch is filled the same can'be instantly closed and at the end of the closing movement automatically locked without requiring additional attention on the part of the operator.

It further consists of novel details of construction, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 represents a plan view of an automatic locking device for mail and other pouches, showing the same in locked position. Fig. 2 represents a plan view showing the device in open position. Fig. 3 represents a section on linens m, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a section on line y y, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 represents a section on line 2 2, Fig. 2. Figs. 6 and 7 represent, on an enlarged scale, perspective views showing the manner of forming the joint between two adjacent bars. Fig. 8 represents a side elevation of a mail or other pouch having our invention applied thereto.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a locking device consisting of the bars B and C, which are hinged to each other at one end by the rivet, pin, or other connection D, while at their other or opposite ends said bars are hinged to bars E and F by means of the connections G and H, the contiguous ends of said bars E and F being hinged to each other by means of the pin, rivet, or other connection J.

It will be seen that the bar B is provided with a recessed or rabbeted portion K, into which fits the overlapping portion L of the bar 0 when the parts are in closed position, as seen in Fig. 1. In like manner the bar F is provided with a recessed or rabbeted por tion M, into which fits when the device is closed the overlapping or projecting portion N of the bar E, it being noted that the latter is provided with the opening P, beneath which is the slit Q, into which the card or tag R, indicating the designation of the bag, is adapted to he slipped. One of the bars, as B, is provided on its upper or raised portion or at some other suitable point with the member S of the locking device, which is adapted to engage the other member T of said looking device when the parts are in closed position, as indicated in Figs. 1, 4E, and 8. It will further be noted that the juxtaposed ends of the opposite bars, as O and E, are beveled as indicated at U and V, while the juxtaposed ends of the opposite bars B and F are beveled as indicated at W and X, so that when the locking device is closed, as indicated in Fig. l, the juxtaposed edges of the bars will lie contiguous to each other, as will be understood from Figs. 1, 3, and 4. The contact of the beveled surfaces V and U with the extremities A and B, respectively, will serve to limit the movement of the bars constituting the locking device.

The manner of attaching the locking device A will be understood from Fig. 8, wherein Y designates a bag, the edges of the same being securedin any suitable manner to the locking device above described by means of rivets common to the mouth of the bag and the openings Z.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing that a bag or pouch equipped with our invention can be readily filled when unlocked and in the position seen in Fig. 2, and when it is desired to close the same the parts can be readily and automatically looked as soon as they assume the position seen in Fig. 1 without requiring attention on the part of the operator.

1. In an automatic locking device, a pin-- rality of bars hinged together, the opposite pairs of said bars having rabbeted edges, adapted to overlap when the device is closed and provided also With beveled portions on the overlapping end portions of the bars of each pair, said beveled portions abutting When the device is closed, the extremities of said beveled portions being adapted to contact with the opposing extremities of the raised portion of a contiguous bar, and said end portions acting as'stops and limiting the vice ratio-sad.

opening movement of said bars.

2. In an automatic locking device, a plu-- rality of bars hinged together, the opposite pairs of said bars having rabbeted edges adapted to overlap when the'device is closed and provided also with beveled portions on the overlappingend portions of the bars of each pair, said beveled portions ab ntting' against eaoh'other when the device is closed, the extremities of said beveled portions being adapted to contact with the opposing extremities of the raised portions of a con tiguons bar when the'said device is closed, said extremities acting as stops and limiting the opening movement of said bars, one of said bars having an opening in its upper side and transverse grooves extending outwardly from the walls of said opening, said bar being provided with a slot extending from the inner side to said opening and grooves and the outer end of said slot being adapted to be closed bythe inner side of another bar when the de- OI IABLES C. CRAWFORD. WILLIAM G. BIOHY.

Witnesses:

WM. GAMER winn'nasnnm, O. D. MoVA'Y. 

